Spectroscopic Observations of High-speed Downflows in a C1.7 Solar Flare

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze the high-resolution UV spectra for a C1.7 solar flare (SOL2017-09-09T06:51) observed by the \textit{Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph} (\textit{IRIS}). {We focus on the spectroscopic observations at the locations where the cool lines of \ion{Si}{4} 1402.8 Ã ($\sim$10${}^{4.8}$ K) and \ion{C}{2} 1334.5/1335.7 Ã ($\sim$10${}^{4.4}$ K) reveal significant redshifts with Doppler velocities up to $\sim$150 km s${}^{-1}$.} These redshifts appear in the rise phase of the flare, then increase rapidly, reach the maximum in a few minutes, and proceed into the decay phase. Combining the images from \textit{IRIS} and Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the {\em Solar Dynamics Observatory} ({\em SDO}), we propose that the redshifts in the cool lines are caused by the downflows in the transition region and upper chromospheric layers, which likely result from a magnetic reconnection leading to the flare. In addition, the cool \ion{Si}{4} and \ion{C}{2} lines show gentle redshifts (a few tens of km s${}^{-1}$) at some other locations, which manifest some distinct features from the above locations. This is supposed to originate from a different physical process.

20 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ